Method and machine for making packages provided with tearing strips



July 3, 1934. I Q MELHQRN 1,965,524

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARING STRIPSFiled Feb. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 3, 1934. MELHORN 1,965,524

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING'PAGKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARING- STRIPSFiled Feb. 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a it; L

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

July 3, 1934.

MET

c. E. MELHORN 1,965,524

HOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARING STRIPS FiledFeb. 28, 19:55 4 S heets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CARL EH52 Ila/M 7/144 IATTORNEYS.

J y 1934- c. E. M ELHORN 1,965,524

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARING- STRIPSFiled Feb. 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

CARZ E [YEA/701M 66 M ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MACHINE FORMAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARING STRIPS Carl E. Melhorn,Springfield, Mass, assignor to Package Machinery Company, Springfield,

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and to a machine for producingwrapped articles having a tearing strip and to a method and a machinefor preparing wrapper blanks having integral tearing strips and suitablefor use in wrapping articles.

In preparing wrapped articles which are to have a tearing stripincorporated within the wrapper difficulty has been experienced inpresenting both the wrapper and the tearing strip to the wrappingmechanism in accurate registration except in "cases where the tearingstrip did not project beyond the end of the wrapper. It is of coursedesirable to have the end of the tearing strip projecting free of thewrapper so that if the tearing strip is made of a different material orof a different color from the body of the wrapper attention will bedirected to it and its seizure will be facilitated. It is the object ofthis invention to provide a method and an apparatus by which the wrapperand the tearing strip may be handled as a unit throughout thepreparation of the wrapper blank and the presentation of the compositeblank to the wrapping mechanism, and in which the composite blank may beso severed by a single cutting operation that the tearing strip willproject beyond the severed edge of the wrapper. Additional objects willappear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a mechanism constructed in accordance withmy invention for associating a tearing strip with a wrapper web,severing the strips into wrapper blanks, and presenting the compositewrapper blank to a suitable wrapping mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, partly in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, ofcertain mechanisms shown in that figure;

Fig. 3 is a detail of a movable cutting member;

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the manner of cooperation of the fixed andmovable cutting members;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the fixed cutting member;

Fig. '7 is an end view of the movable cutting member;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detail views showing progressive stages in thepreparation of a wrapper blank;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the mechanism for subject ing the tearing stripto a wax bath;

Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail showing the mechanism for perforating the wrapperweb;

Fig. 14 is a detail of the operating mechanism for the cutters;

Fig. 15 is a detail of the device for chilling the associated wrapperweb and tearing strip;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the completed package;

Fig. 1'7 is a side elevation of a modified form of mechanism;

Figs. 18, 19, 20, and 21 are successive views showing the method ofpreparing the wrapper blank performed by the mechanism of Fig. 17; and

Figs. 22 and 23 are respectively a top plan and a side elevation of thepackage produced by the modified mechanism.

The mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 15 is mounted upon a frame 20 whichmay, for convenience, be formed as a part of a suitable wrappingmechanism. Upon this frame are supported a reel 21 which carrieswrapping material used, for example, in wrapping individual gum sticks,a reel 22 carrying a web of wrapping material such as tinfoil used inwrapping a group of gum sticks and a reel 23 carrying a tape-liketearing strip. This strip may be made of paper, thin celluloid, or oneof the numerous cellulosic products now on the market, and it ispreferably colored so as to contrast with the tinfoil wrapper. Thecourse of the tinfoil wrapper web w will be traced first.

On leaving the reel 22 the wrapper web w passes between rolls 24 and 25driven intermittently as by a chain 26 from a shaft 27. This shaft ispreferably connected to one of the intermittent drive shafts of awrapping machine so as to rotate in synchronism therewith. Beyond thesefeed rolls the web w passes over a table 28 provided with a perforatingdie 29. A punch 30 is connected to the lower end of a tube 31 verticallyreciprocable in bearings 32. A clamp 33 (Fig. 13) is secured upon thetube and a spring 34 is compressed between the lower bearing 32 and thisclamp so as to give the tube a tendency to rise. The clamp is providedwith an abutment 35 engageable by a fork 36 secured to a shaft 37. Thisshaft is also provided with an arm 40 having a slot 41 in which a pivot42 is adjustably secured. A link 43 connects this pivot with an arm 44secured to a shaft 45. A second arm 46 on the latter shaft is connectedby a link 47 with the strap of an eccentric 48 on a main cam shaft 49driven continuously by any suitable means. By this mechanism the punch30 is lowered into cooperation with the die 29 at a time when the web tois stationary. The operation of the punch is to produce in the web aseries of longitudinally spaced incisions, in the form of holes orperforations p. The perforations are spaced apart a distance equal tothe length of the wrapper blank to be produced and are located laterallyof the web at the point where the tearing strip is later'to be fixed.The punch is preferably provided with the usual stripper plate mountedupon pins 51 and pressed down by springs 52 acting against a plate 53carried by the lower end of the tube 31. Beyond the punch the perforatedweb passes over a flanged guide roll 55 and then around a roll 56 (Figs.1 and 15) carried upon an arm 57 pivoted at 58 to the frame. The arm isgenerally held in the position of Fig. 15 by a thumb screw 59, but byloosening the latter it maybe swung upwardly upon its pivot tofacilitate threading of the web when the machine is being started.

Considering now the progress of the tearing strip t, it passes from thereel 23 through a guide 65, over a flanged guide roll 66, and through ahole 67 in the top of a. casing having a cover 68 swinging on a verticalpivot 69 and provided with a handle 70. The lower portion of this casingis formed as a wax tank 71 provided with electric heaters 72 and theusual thermostatic form of control. Within the casing are a series offlanged guide rolls 75, 76, and 77 (Figs. 11 and 12) all mounted upon anarm 78 carried upon a stationary pivot 79. The arm has an extension 80upon which a 'pin 81 is pressed laterally by a spring 82 so as to bemaintained in one or another of two spaced holes 83 in the casing.Normally the arm is in the position of Fig. 11, but by withdrawing thepin and shifting the arm so that the pin registers with the upper hole,the rolls may be held in a position facilitating threading of thetearing strip. A roll 85, preferably having a fiat surface fittingwithin the flanges of the roll '17, is carried order to avoid prematurecongealing of the wax- On passing beyond the roll 77 the tearing strip tmeets the now perforated web w approximately at the guide roll 56.Immediately thereafter the composite strip shown in Fig. 9 passesunderneath a cooling tank provided with inlet and outlet openings 96 forthe circulation of water. During the passage of the composite stripacross this tank the waxcarried by the tearing strip cools sufflcientlyto unite this strip with the web w, the two forming thereafter a singleunit. For convenience in later sealing the longitudinal seam of thepackage a strip 8 of wax may be applied across the compound web by adauber 98.

It will be observed that no separate feeding mechanismhas been providedfor the tearing strip, reliance being placed upon its union by thecongealed wax with the web w. This web was given a preliminaryintermittent feed by the rolls 24 and 25. Its final feeding movementalso intermittent and is secured after the rolls 24 and 25 so that thecomposite strip is maintained under a slight tension. Below these latterrolls the composite web passes a stationary knife bar 103 carried by aguide 104 which is in turn supported on a bracket 105 arising from theframe. This knife bar has a serrated cutting edge 106 and is providedwith' a hole 107 into which one part of the movable cutting member isadapted to enter. The movable cutting member comprises a main knife 110having a set-- rated cutting edge 111. This edge is adapted to coactwith the edge 106 and has a gap 112 in line with the perforations p. Themovable knife is also provided with an offset cutter 113 adapted toenter the hole 107 and also is in registration with the line ofperforations. The movable cutting members are supported on an arm 115(Fig. 14) secured to a shaft 116. A second arm 117 on this shaft isjoined by a pivot 118 with a yoke 119 embracing a block 120 free uponthe shaft 49. A roll 121 on the yoke enters a groove in a cam 122 ontheshaft 49 to cause the movable knife to pass across the edge of thestationary knife during the rest period of the web.

Beyond the knife the severed wrapper blank passes between the guide 104and a second guide 125 and drops upon a stop plate 126 which positionsit for the wrapping operation. The articlea which, in the case shown,consists of a group of five individually wrapped gum sticks, is pushedby a plunger 127 against the wrapper blank and carries the latter into atumble box 128 which may be of any desired design. After the tumble boxis rotated a half revolution the package is forced therefrom by anejector 129 into a folding channel 130 in which the end folds of thepackage may be turned down by any desired folding mechanism.

The method by which the tearing strip and the web are associated and theoperation of the mechanism will now be considered. As described above,the web 10 is originally provided with a series of longitudinally spacedincisions or perforations p. After this is done the tearing strip t isadhesively secured to the web in a position so it is stretched acrossthe perforated portions of the web. The composite web is then severed ona broken line, as indicated in Fig. 10, the web w being severed upon aline 0 extending into but interrupted at the perforation 1) so that thetearing strip is not cut at this point. The tearing strip itself is cutat a point within the boundary of the perforation but longitudinallyspaced from the out o along a line d, this being accomplished by thecutter blade 113. It will be seen that by this means the end of thetearing strip is left free and projecting from the body of the wrapperblank. In the subsequent wrapping operation the blank is foldedcircumferentially around the article so that the projecti portion of thetearing strip will be on the outside, the tearing strip itself lying.within the wrapper. Preferably, in order to afford easy access to theend of the tearing strip, the cut edge 0 is located at one edge of thepackage, as indicated in Fig. 16. The projecting portion of the tearingstrip is by this means allowed to extend free of the package beyond oneside, as clearly indicated in that figure.

If desired, the package may be encircled by a label I having a widthinsufficient to cause it to overlie the tearing strip. Upon pulling thetearing strip around the package the end of the wrapper will be tornoff, exposing the ends of the gum sticks, which will meanwhile be heldin assembled relation by the label 1 and the remaining portion of thewrapper.

As indicated in the modification shown in Figs. 1'? to 23 it is notnecessary to remove material from the web in forming the initialincisions or partial severances in the web, In this modified method theincisions in the web are made in the form of slits m which are narrowerthan the web so as to leave an uncut margin on each side. Preferablythese slits are made with a cutter having comparatively largeserrations, so that the serrated slit takes up a substantial spacelengthwise of the web. The tape t is secured to the web w by spots 11.of adhesive preferably applied to the web on either side of the slit orperforation m. The composite strip shown in Fig. 20 is now severed (Fig.21) on a double line u, v. The line of cut it is interrupted at the slitm, running into that slit from opposite margins of the web. The largesize of the serrations forming the original slit m is of use in assuringcomplete severance of the web, even with slightly imperfect registrationof the lines m and u. Of course the large serrations could be placed inthe cut it instead of in the slit m with this same result, or either theslit m or the cut u could be provided with a terminal portion extendinglongitudinally of the web. The cut 1: extends through both the tape andthe web, completely severing the former at a point spaced from the lineit, and leaving a blind slit in what is to be the inner and thereforeconcealed end of the wrapper blank. In this modiflcation the severedwrapper blank has straight edges without any notch, as would be the casewith a perforation of the type first discussed, and may sometimes bedesirable for that reason. The amount of projection of the tearing stripmay be made as great as is desired, since it is not limited by thediameter of the punched hole as in the first modification. The tapebeing secured to the web only by spots of adhesive which are outside thearea bounded by the cuts u and v, the tape when severed on the latterline comes away from the underlying web. When the wrapper blank isremoved from the end of the composite web there will be left on thelatter a portion of web uncovered by tape from the blind slit 1; to thetransverse cut made up of the slit m and the two-part slit u. This endof the web, however, forms the inner end of the wrapper, so that theabsence of this small length of tape is of no consequence.

The mechanism for producing this modified form of wrapper blank has notbeen shown in detail, as certain operating mechanisms may be the same asthose previously described. In this case the web 10 passes a knifemechanism composed of a fixed member 140 and a movable member 141. Theoperating mechanism is the same as that shown in Fig. 14 and is notillustrated again. These members 140, 141 are short in relation to thetotal width of the web, and are formed with serrations of comparativelylarge pitch for the reasons previously given, so as to form the slit min the manner described above. Below this cutting mechanism the webpasses between guide members 142, 143, the former being broken off topermit the application of adhesive in the form of spots n. A convenientform of adhesive applying mechanism is a rotating shaft 144 bearingcircumferentially spaced adhesive applying pads 145. These pads receiveadhesive from a supply roll 146 running in an adhesive containing tank147.

The web, bearing the slits m. and adhesive spots n, passes betweenintermittently driven feed rolls 150, 151 around the former of which thetape t is led. Below these rolls is a second cutting mechanismsubstantially identical with that shown in Fig. 14, having a stationaryblade 152 provided with a slot 153. The movable knife arm 154 carries ablade 155 adapted to contact with the blade 152 and also a short knife156. Blades 152 and 154 have their cutting edges interrupted so as toform the slit u, and knife 156 enters the slot 153 to form the blindslit 1). The severed sheet falls through guides 160 onto a stop 161,where it is picked up by the wrapping mechanism as before. 5

While in the above discussion the feed rolls have been described asintermittently driven, it is obvious that where the invention is to beused on wrapping machines employing a continuous wrapper feed the samemethod could be followed by conventional changes in the individualmechanisms. Other changes, within the scope of the invention as setforth in the accompanying claims, may be made in response to therequirements of different wrapping machines to which the invention is tobe applied.

What I claim is:

1. A method of forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises forming longitudinally spaced incisions in a webof wrapping material, securing a tearing strip to the web along the lineof the incisions leaving a portion of the strip unattached to the web ateach incision, cutting the web from each margin thereof into eachincision without cutting the strip, and severing the strip at a pointspaced from the line upon which the web was cut and within saidunattached portion of the strip.

2. A method of wrapping packages provided with tearing strips whichcomprises forming a.

series of longitudinally spaced incisions in a web of wrapping materialat a distance from one edge thereof in excess of the marginalrequirements for forming the end folds, securing a tearing strip to theweb along the line of the incisions leaving a portion of the stripunattached to the web at each incision, cutting the web from each marginthereof into each incision without cutting the strip, severing the stripat a point spaced from the line upon whlchthe web was cut and withinsaid unattached portion of the strip, wrapping the blank thus producedaround an article with the projecting end of the tearing strip producedby the last-named severance exposed, and closing in the marginalportions of the wrapper blank upon the ends of the article.

3. A method of forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises forming in a web of wrapping material a series oflongitudinally spaced incisions each of which is spaced from the marginsof the web and has a substantial longitudinal as well as a lateralextent, securing a tearing strip to the web along the line of theincisions leaving a portion of the strip unattached to the web at eachincision, cutting the web from each margin thereof up to the lateraledges of the incisions and within the longitudinal extent thereof, andwithout cutting the tearing strip, and severing the tearing strip at apoint spaced from the line upon which the web was cut and within saidunattached web of wrapping material, adhesively securing a tearing stripto the web along the line of the holes and severing wrapper blanks fromthe composite web upon broken transverse lines running from the edges ofthe web to the holes and then longitudinally offset so that the tearingstrip is severed within the boundary of the holes but on a line spacedfrom the adjacent transverse severed edge of the wrapper blank.

5. A method of wrapping packages provided with tearing strips whichcomprises forming longitudinally spaced holes in a web of wrappingmaterlal, adhesively securing a tearing strip to the wrapping materialalong the line of the holes, severing the wrapping material webtransversely along lines intersecting each of said holes adjacent onelongitudinal edge thereof without severing the tearing strip, severingthe tearing strip upon lines adjacent the other longitudinal edge ofeach hole so as to leave a projecting length of the tearing strip, andwrapping the compound strip thus produced about an article with thetearing strip inside and with the projecting end of the tearing stripexposed.

6. A method of wrapping packages provided with tearing strips whichcomprises forming longitudinally spaced holes in a web of wrappingmaterial, positioning a tearing strip along the line of the holes,severing the wrapping material web transversely along lines intersectingeach of said holes adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof withoutsevering the tearing strip,'severing the tearing strip upon linesadjacent the other longitudinal edge of each hole so as to leave aprojecting length of tearing strip, and wrapping the compound strip thusproduced about an article with the tearing strip inside and with theprojecting end of the tearing strip exposed.

"I. A method of forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises forming in a web of wrapping material a series oflongitudinally spaced slits each of which is spaced from the margins ofthe web, securing a tearing strip to the web leaving an unattachedportion adjacent each slit, cutting the web from each margin thereofinto each slit without severing the strip and cutting through the stripand web at points spaced from the former cut and within the unattachedportion of the strip so that a composite wrapper blank having aprojecting tearing strip will be severed from the web.

8. A method of forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises forming in a web of wrapping-material a series oflongitudinally spaced slits each of which is spaced from the margins ofthe web, securing a tearing strip to the web leaving an unattachedportion adjacent each slit, cutting the web from each margin thereofinto each slit without severing the strip, one of the partial severancesof the web comprising the slit and the last named out being formed on aline having substantial longitudinal as well as lateral extent so thatthe combined partial severances will completely sever the webirrespective of slight variations in register, and cutting through theslit and web without completely severing the web at points spaced fromthe former cut and within the unattached portion of the strip so that acomposite wrapper blank having a projecting tearing strip will beproduced.

9. A method of forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises forming in a web of wrapping material a series oflongitudinally spaced broadly serrated slits each of which is spacedfrom the margin of the web, securing a tearing strip to the wee leavingan unattached portion adjacent each sht. cutting the web from eachmargin thereof into the broad serrations of each slit without severingthe strip, and cutting through the slit and web with a line of cutsubstantially equal to the width of the strip at points spaced from theformer cut and within the unattached portion of the strip so that acomposite wrapper blank having a projecting tearing strip will beproduced.

10. Mechanism for forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises -means for advancing a web of wrapping material,means for forming in the web a series of longitudinally spacedincisions, means for advancing a tearing strip into contact with the webalong the lines of the incisions, means for securing the strip and webtogether leaving an unattached portion of the strip at each incision,means for cutting the web from each margin thereof into each incisionwithout cutting the strip, and a cutter operable to sever the strip atpoints spaced from the lines upon which the web was cut and within saidunattached portions of the strip.

11. Mechanism for forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises means for forming perforations longitudinallyspaced along a web of wrapping material, means for attaching a tearingstrip to the web along the line of perforations, and cutting means forsevering the composite web upon broken transverse lines running from theedges of the web to the perforations and then longitudinally offset tosever the tearing strip within the boundary of the perforations.

12. Mechanism for forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises means for forming perforations longitudinallyspaced along a web of wrapping material, means for attaching a tearingstrip to the web along the line of perforations, and cutting means forsevering the composite strip comprising cooperating cutting membershaving cutting edges extending from the edges of the web into theperforations and additional cutting edges offset from the first in adirection longitudinally of the web and positioned to sever the tearingstrip within the boundary of the perforations.

13. Mechanism for producing packages provided with tearing stripscomprising means for forwarding a web of wrapping material, perforatingmechanism for forming longitudinally spaced perforations in the web,means for 10- cating a tearing strip in adjacency to the web and in linewith the perforations, cutting devices operable to sever the webtransversely upon lines extending from each edge of the web into eachperforation adjacent one longitudinal side thereof, and to sever thetearing strip upon lines adjacent the other longitudinal side of eachperforation so that the tearing strip projects beyond the severed edgeof the wrapper, and means for wrapping each severed wrapper and tearingstrip around an article with the tearing strip inside and with theprojecting end of the tearing strip exposed.

l4. Mechanism for producing packages provided with tearing stripscomprising means for forwarding a web of wrapping material, perforatingmechanism for forming longitudinally spaced perforations in the web,means for securing a tearing strip adhesively to the web in line withthe perforations, cutting devices operable to sever the compound web soformed transversely upon lines extending from each edge of the web intoeach perforation adjacent one longitudinal side thereof and across thetearing strip adjacent the other longitudinal side of each perforationso that the tearing strip projects beyond the severed edge of thewrapper, and means for wrapping each severed compound wrapper around anarticle with the tearing strip inside and with the projecting end of thetearing strip exposed.

15. Mechanism. for forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises means for forming perforations longitudinallyspaced along a web of wrapping material, a supply fora tearing strip,means for applying molten wax to the strip, means for guiding the stripinto contact with the web along the line of the perforations, means forchilling the web and strip while in contact, and cutting means forsevering wrapper blanks from the composite web upon broken transverselines running from the edges of the web to the perforations and thenlongitudinally offset so that the tearing strip is severed within theboundary of the perforations but on a line spaced from the adjacenttransverse severed edge of the wrapper blank.

16. Mechanism for forming wrapper blanks provided with attached tearingstrips which comprises means for advancing a web of wrapping material, acutter operable periodically on the web to form therein a series oflongitudinally spaced broadly serrated slits each of which is spacedfrom the margin of the web, means for advancing a tearing strip intocontact with the web along the line of the slits, devices for securingthe web and strip together leaving an unattached portion of the stripadjacent each slit, and cutting devices operable upon the compositestrip thus formed to cut the web from each margin thereof into the broadserrations of each slit without severing the strip, and to cut the stripand web on lines of cut substantially equal to the width of the stripand located at points spaced from the said marginal cuts but within theunattached portion of the strip.

CARL E. MELHORN.

